From Judex Okoro, Calabar
Tragedy struck Mbube community in Ogoja local government area of Cross River as a middle aged man has been reprtedly shot dead while trying to disrupt voting process within the area.
The deceased, simply identified as Joe, is said to be a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and from the same community where the party’s deputy governorship candidate comes from.
The deceased, said to be an Okada ridder, was said to have arrived his polling unit at the early hours of election day and started causing trouble and creating unneccessary tension even when they told him to calm down.
A witness, an election observer, who don’t want his name in print, said when Joe was confronted, he pulled out a guy in front of soldiers and the soldiers shot him immediately for daring them.
Confirming the incident, the CP Elections, Garba Aliyu, said:” i am.aware that somwbody was shot by the soldiers on ground. But I have not got the details yet.
Similay, thugs nunbering over 30 have burnt 7 vehicles belonging to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
An eye witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the incident took place at Okut-Ikang/Akpap axis of Odukpani local government area of the state.
According to him, “at 11:45pm on Friday, March 17, seven PDP vehicles including four buses and three SUVs were burnt while conveying some people to their respective communities.
“One woman was also shot in the belly at Ikot Effiong Otop while some policemen were disarmed and weapons taken away.”
The SUVs, this reporter gathered, belonged to the Director Security of PDP campaign organisation in the state, Mr. Bobby Ekpenyong, as well as the state vice chairman(South) of the party.
When contacted, the Police PRO in Cross River, DSP Irene Ugbo, said the command was yet to receive an official report on the incident.
